Midwest Giants: 16 XL Lineman & TE Prospects
What do you think of when you think of the Midwest? Acres of farmland as far as the eye can see? Small towns no more than a streetlight long contrasted with the sprawling metro’s of Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and…
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Continue ReadingWhat do you think of when you think of the Midwest? Acres of farmland as far as the eye can see? Small towns no more than a streetlight long contrasted with the sprawling metro’s of Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Indianapolis? Cheese curds, lakes, beer, and/or winter? When America’s Heartland comes up in the context of high school football recruiting, the first thing that comes to my mind are massive, corn-fed, lineman and TE’s that tip the scales and make you crane your neck to get a full glimpse of their gigantic frames. With 6’7 and higher height becoming so coveted in high school football recruiting, I am always on the lookout for XL recruits across the Midwest and keep track of them for the benefit of our subscribers and college coaches alike. Now that I’ve built up another solid list of names, I wanted to share with our Midwest readers the XL lineman and TE prospects and evaluate their game and potential as college football prospects. There’s a wide variety of ages, positions, and skillsets below, with some of these Midwest Giants already having already committed to big-time P5 programs and some of them still waiting for that first offer. If you’re like me and enjoy seeing some of the biggest kids in the Midwest play football, this is the article for you. Thanks for reading!
Midwest Giants
Logan Kreiter (Fairfield, Illinois) 6’9, 350 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle. @LoganKreiter
Currently holds no offers. The senior mammoth out of the Land of Lincoln only has one game of senior film currently uploaded to Hudl but looks like a good athlete at his size who can pull and work to the second level at a solid and not sloppy 350ish pounds. He’s got a high motor that works until he hears the whistle and can adjust and redirect in space to get his hands on smaller and quicker DBs and LBs avoiding his clutches. He’s a solid run blocker who also shows a bit of a competitive streak and energy on the field and I’m surprised no one has officially reached out or gotten this kid on campus. Luckily, there’s still! Hopefully the senior will update his film soon as well. Hudl: vs. Eldorado 2021
Rahzik Crutcher (Findlay, Ohio) 6’9, 310 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle. @rahzik1
Was offered by Tiffin University in June. Playing at a talent-rich Findlay program, Crutcher is a colossal left tackle who can easily dunk a basketball and is a lean, mean 310 lbs. that could really flourish in a college strength and conditioning program. On tape, he can easily overwhelm and dominate smaller opponents and can finish blocks with relative ease by basically smothering DEs and LBs. I also saw a very impressive and devastating block in his Week 1 gametape where he pulled to the boundary on a pitch and burst into and through a safety coming downhill before the kid could react. I’m pretty surprised he doesn’t have more college interest, as he moves very well for his size and shows solid footwork and a mean streak that is hard to disengage from for opponents. He also has a good initial punch and is able to successfully hit reach blocks and seal off the edge on rollouts. He’s got some very intriguing tape that I hope more college coaches take a peek at! Hudl: Week 1 highlights
Cannon Leonard (Iroquois West, Illinois) 6’9, 265 lbs. C/o 2023. Offensive Tackle. @CannonLeonard1
The junior doesn’t currently have an offer but has visited Nebraska and Iowa this fall and will be at Iowa State tomorrow. Older brother Clayton ( is an Illinois commit in the class of ’22. Younger brother Cannon is a force himself and has laid some serious hits so far this fall, with the first play of his tape setting the tone of physicality in his midseason highlights. He’s a long strider who can get toe-to-toe with defenders before they can react, which serves well when he works to the second level and drives his opponents into their own benches. At a lean 265 lbs. he’s got some noteworthy natural strength and uses and understands leverage when he is engaged and is always pumping and chopping his feet until the play is over. There’s a lot to like on film and I think he’s got FBS/P5 potential in the 2023 class. Someone should pull the trigger soon! Hudl: Week 1-6 highlights
Nathan Lund (Fort Zumwalt North, Missouri) 6’8, 320 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive and Defensive Tackle. @nathanlund16
Holds offer from Kentucky Wesleyan and has visited Missouri State & Missouri Southern. The gargantuan senior has some noteworthy footwork in pass protection with a good first step before he kick slides that doesn’t overstep and still allows him gain depth to combat faster rush attempts upfield. His footwork also helps him out in space, as he does a good job of cutting off opponents outside shoulder so they lose leverage on the ball-carrier and also helps him hit seal blocks on the edge for his QB. I really like his experience in pass protection and he’s light on his feet for a 300+ lber. More college staffs need to check this man out! Hudl: Senior Highlights Week 1-5
Paden Johnson (Watertown, South Dakota) 6’8, 300 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle. @johnson_paden
Offered by Northern State. Visited Northern State and South Dakota State. The mighty son of South Dakota is one of the biggest preps in a state that grows them big and is having a strong senior season that has kept him in touch with the FCS Jackrabbits in Brookings. His senior tape shows off a long, lean, 300 lber. who looks like he possesses some flexibility in his knees that helps him in his kick step in pass pro, as well as great hand placement and some natural strength that helps him display some good pop when he can square up a smaller opponent. I think he’s got high potential and his best football in front of him. Would be a great grab from the Wolves of Northern State as well. Hudl: vs. Mitchell vs. Riggs
Matthew Searls (Findlay, Ohio) 6’8, 300 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard. @searls_matthew
Has received offers from Mount St. Joseph University, Denison University. Apparently they grow ’em big and they grow ’em strong in the Findlay High School program, as Searls and his aforementioned teammate Rahzik Crutcher combine for 161 inches and almost 620 pounds of Buckeye State meat and bone to create one of the more menacing tackle tandems in Ohio. His 2021 regular season tape shows off a versatile lineman for his size who operates well in a zone blocking scheme and is a powerful down-blocker with a strong chest that throws opponents backwards upon extension. He can easily overwhelm smaller defenders and has great foot drive as well. He’d be an OL coaches dream to help develop and I hope he gets a few more looks before things are all said and done. Hudl: Week 1-9 highlights
Maurice Washington (DuQuoin, Illinois) 6’8, 270 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle. @MoeWashington55
Interestingly, this is Washington’s second year playing the great game of football after contributing his talents to the Indians basketball team and getting a taste of the sport in the abbreviated spring season in Illinois. He is limited in updated football film, but in some of his junior tape you can see he’s hard-nosed, plays with good pad level, and has that trademark lateral agility you see from basketball players and combines it with a nonstop drive once he’s engaged with an opponent. He could be an excellent development project for an OL coach and I hope college staffs have him on their radar. Could be a big-time sleeper OT prospect. I also hope he updates his senior Hudl tape soon as well. Hudl: some junior film
Jackson Loge (Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta, Minnesota) 6’8, 220 lbs. C/o 2022. Wide Receiver/Tight End. @jacksonloge22
Committed to play DII basketball for Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. Doesn’t have updated senior football highlights, but the Preseason PrepRedzoneMN All-State pick has some eye-popping junior football film where the 6’8, 220 lber. looks like a Division 1 TE prospect who plays wideout at the high school level and plays it well. He’s got excellent concentration and soft hands that help him make a variety of impressive catches and is a big-time redzone threat who can high-point the football and make contested catches with opponents draped all over him as well as over the middle. His catch radius is huge and he can cut off his routes well for a kid of size. I wish he was playing football in college but I’m excited that he’s going to hoop in a very competitive Northern Sun conference. Sophomore/Junior Hudl: sophomore/junior tape
Eric Mulder (Pella Christian, Iowa) 6’8, 200 lbs. C/o 2022. Wide Receiver/Tight End. @eric_mulder16
The Purdue-Fort Wayne basketball commit is a long-legged, slender, but strong and physical wideout/TE who throws a mean stiff-arm and possesses some impressive YAC ability as well as concentration that really help him to be a potent threat in the passing game. He can also be a huge (no pun intended) weapon in the redzone and can high-point and “moss” DBs on fades in the endzone. He’s fun to watch and I hope he keeps updating his gridiron film through his senior season. Hudl: couple clips vs. Central Decatur
Ryan Baer (Eastlake North, Ohio) 6’7, 330 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle/Offensive Guard. @RyanBaer2003
Committed to Pittsburg to play ACC football. The composite 4-star also held offers from Notre Dame, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan State, West Virginia, Baylor, and many others. His senior tape displays an offensive lineman who explodes out of his stance, especially when pulling, and is comfortable and impressive when moving and blocking in space. Great pass set who isn’t passive when looking for work who possesses great strength at the point of contact and shows bend and flexibility in his knees and ankles. Is always looking to finish, and can play guard or tackle and shows great footwork when run or pass blocking that kept catching my eye. There’s a reason he’s a four-star and it’s all obvious on tape as he’s a fluid athlete at his size who is physically imposing and impressive compared to his peers. Future NFL Draft pick? It looks like all of the tools are there. Hudl: First 5 Weeks
Ben Roebuck (St. Edward, Ohio) 6’7, 320 lbs. C/o 2024. Offensive Tackle. @Benroebuck75
The sophomore already holds an offer from Boston College. Coming out of one of my favorite high school programs in the nation in Lakewood-St. Edward, Roebuck seems to be one of the next stud Eagles football prospects that has produced recent standouts such as Trey Bixby (Minnesota), Jeff Pietrowski (Michigan State), Brian Kilbane (Bowling Green), Jordan Castleberry (Maryland), Caden Kolesar (Michigan), and Quintel Kent (Michigan). With a bright future ahead of him, Roebuck flashes a strong base and loose hips that, when coupled with his crisp pass set and solid mechanics, help the big man easily deal with speed rushes at his outside shoulder. He’s also heavy-handed and has a strong punch that freezes defenders when he thumps them. He also does a good job of countering DL when they try to cross his face, and with his massive size, impressive strength, and body flexibility he is always capable of finishing opponents with authority. There’s going to be many more offers coming his way shortly. Keep it up, Ben! Hudl: Week 3-7 highlights
Deone Walker (Cass Tech, Michigan) 6’7, 315 lbs. C/o 2022. Defensive Tackle. @deonewalker51
The massive defensive line recruit is a four-star prospect who holds offers from the likes of Michigan, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Penn State, Arkansas, Texas, Michigan State, and many more suitors. The Cass Tech Technicans monstrous DT doesn’t have updated film that I could find but his film from last season shows an incredibly quick and twitchy interior defensive lineman with an impressive first step and uncommon burst, speed, and body control for a kid of his size. He uses his hands well to get off blocks and can long-arm tackles backwards with his strength to help avoid lineman getting into his pads, and he absolutely swallows up ball carriers and has no problems reading, reacting, and adjusting in space to make the play. It’s eye-popping to see a dude of his size fly around and cover ground like he does, and with a lengthy list of offers I am very excited to see where he possibly ends up. Don’t be surprised if you hear his name called in the NFL Draft in a few short years. Hudl: Junior Year
Garrett Masterson (Lapeer, Michigan) 6’7, 300 lbs. C/o 2022. Offensive Tackle. @garrettmasters9
The Kent State commit also held a PWO from Michigan and offers from Western Michigan, Liberty, Youngstown State, and Grand Valley State. A three-sport standout who also plays basketball and runs track, Masterson’s senior film shows off a right tackle who does a good job of pulling from his OT spot and has more than enough strength to redirect and dominate smaller opponents at the point of attack. Once he can get his full body weight on you when down blocking it’s just about a guarantee that you’re going down, and he also showed a couple nice reps where gained enough ground laterally out of his stance to seal the edge. His frame will thrive in a college S&C program and I’ll be excited to see him with the Golden Flashes. Hudl: First 8 Senior Year
Calvin Clements (Lawrence Free State, Kansas) 6’7, 275 lbs. C/o 2023. Offensive Tackle. @CalvinClements9
Holds offers from Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Kansas and has visited the ISU Cyclones and the KU Jayhawks this fall. Midseason highlights show a LT with an excellent frame that can hold a lot more weight and muscle and retain his mobility. Clements has a ton of pop when pulling and is athletic enough to successfully complete reach blocks, and is very smooth at reacting and readjusting his body in space to cut off faster opponents. He possesses a ton of natural strength that shows up all over his film and it’s fun to watch him toss kids around on his midseason junior tape. He’s got more offers coming in his future, and I’m pretty excited about the 2023 class in the Sunflower State. Hudl:
Marques Ealsey (Manual, Illinois) 6’7, 255 lbs. C/o 2024. Defensive Line/Offensive Tackle. @marqueseasley10
The 14-year old hasn’t yet reported any offers or interests, but that should change soon as the sophomore’s game tape is looking good so far this fall. He’s raw, but already dynamic on the gridiron and possesses noteworthy strength and quickness for his size that stand out especially at the DL position. He does a good job of keeping his hands active to either stay on or disengage from opponents, and has a strong base that can handle power rushes no problem. He’s a big, strong kid who is going to keep developing in the weight room and in his technique, and there’s a lot of good football in front of him. Still, the raw tools are all there and I think college coaches should be taking notice of him. Hudl: Week 3
Deontae Armstrong (St. Edward, Ohio) 6’7, 250 lbs. C/o 2024. Offensive Tackle/Defensive Tackle. @DeonArmstrong30
Hasn’t reported any interest or offers. Another Midwest Giant out of Lakewood, Ohio and the St. Ed’s program, Armstrong isn’t on varsity yet but is a name to know out of the 2024 class in the Buckeye State with a great frame to continue adding weight and some physical tools that should catch the eyes of recruiting coordinators and college position coaches alike soon. He’s got long arms and is a willing blocker who isn’t scared to play physically. He’s also a solid basketball player who shows agility and body control on the hardwood. St. Edward is home to ballers!